The Tribune

By Cara Hunt

Tribune Features Writer

cbrennen@tribunemedia.net

Summer vacation is one of those magical times of year when you can get off the rock and head somewhere fabulous for a much-needed break.

But as any mom will tell you, travelling with kids can make it not much of break; it’s just parenting in another location.

Travelling these days especially is already very challenging, what with the security requirements and the fear of germs during a pandemic. Add children to the mix, and it can take away that vacation joy before you even get to your destination.

But with careful planning and forethought, you can ease the burden and have a summer vacation your family will remember forever.

The first tip is to choose your travel time as practically as you can. Direct flights may be more expensive, but not having to deal with layovers and carting kids through multiple airports may be worth the expense.

On the flip side, breaking up your trip may work better with your kids, if you think they will be stressed having to stay in a plane or a car for a super long time.

If you do schedule a layover, try to give yourself ample time. Nothing is more stressful than trying to get children to run across the terminal to catch a connection when they are tired sleepy, need to use the rest room or are just having one of those moments where they aren’t willing to cooperate.

Also, scheduling flights around their sleep cycles may work better. Arriving at night may feel like a waste of a day considering the cost of a hotel room, but it means everyone can get a good night’s sleep before starting your holiday adventure the next morning.

Make sure you have enough things to keep your kids occupied during the journey. This means making sure they have their electronic devices and extra chargers. Download a few treats such as a new book, movie or video that will keep them occupied.

Once you arrive at your destination, the most important thing to remember is that kids simply do not have the stamina that adults have.

If you want to avoid meltdowns and tantrums, you are going to have to alter your pace a little.

This means making sure you arrange times for naps, bathroom breaks and just quiet time in the shade. While they may miss their bedtime, try to make sure they are getting enough sleep and rest.

Also, children pick up on your mood, so if you are anxious and rushed, they will act in a similar manner. Be reasonable. Travelling is a huge adventure for children with lots of new stimuli and experiences they aren’t used to.

It’s natural for them to act a bit hesitant and have moments where they feel just a bit overwhelmed. Tears or acting out may be a sign that it’s just all a bit too much for them; that it’s time to take a short break.

It may seem quite reasonable to you that you can cover every inch of Disney World in a single day, but realistically your young kids won’t make it.

Instead, choose your battles, pick the favourites you know you want to hit, focus on them and anything else you get to do is gravy.

The key to a great vacation is proper planning, but with some flexibility to account for fun and and tired kids.

So maybe your plan was dinner at 7pm sharp, but if everyone is having a great time and not ready to eat yet, consider pushing that reservation to 8pm if possible. Or if everyone is hot sweaty and ready for a break, maybe have dinner earlier.

Incidentally, forcing your kids on rides and experiences that will traumatise them is just a bad idea. It means that they will be timid and frightened for the rest of the vacation.

Allowing your kids to be a part of the planning can also help eliminate vacation stress. Let them set a schedule for a day where the family follows their itinerary. This way, you know they are doing something that they want to and can look forward to.

Another tip is to get your kids engaged in activities that they may consider “boring.”

For example, on a long drive have them play the licence plate game, or if you are touring a museum or historical site, they can conduct a scavenger hunt.

It’s always interesting to see the world through your children’s eyes, so make sure they have their own cameras to record their favourite memories.

Also, be realistic about the finances regarding the vacation. Of course, there will be a lot to buy or spend money on. Let your kids know that they have a set budget, and allow them to make choices.

If they really want that one expensive item, let them know the difference will come out of tomorrow’s budget and that they may see something they like more later on. If possible, suggest they hold off purchasing anything big until the end of the vacation.

But most importantly, enjoy this time with them. Summer vacation is the perfect time for quality family time. Go with the flow, be flexible and have a safe, fun time. Happy travels!